Protective cover

ABSTRACT

A flexible protective cover for an article of headwear which has a crown and a visor. The cover includes a first portion formed to resemble the shape of the crown and an integral pocket formed to receive the visor. The first portion and the pocket are formed from a sheet of polyvinyl chloride material which has a thickness between about 0.008 inches and about 0.012 inches. An inhibitor added to the material during a polymerization process significantly reduces penetration of ultraviolet light rays. The cover can be folded for storage purposes without forming permanent fold marks. The first portion extends beyond a peripheral edge of the crown and can be folded over a portion of such crown adjacent the peripheral edge. The folded portion may be positively urged for contact with the crown by a variety of retaining members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/568,367 filed on May 5, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a protective cover for anarticle of headwear and, more particularly, this invention relates to aflexible protective cover for a baseball style cap which reducespenetration of ultraviolet light rays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is generally well known, headwear, such as caps, hats and the likeare frequently worn for casual, work and formal occasions. Baseballstyle caps, in particular, are frequently worn during recreationalsporting events and/or work related conditions and can be easily soiled.They can also be left in the vehicle for extended periods of timeexposing them to damage from ultraviolet (UV) light rays.

Baseball style caps are also frequently used as a medium to obtainautographs from sport stars and such autographed caps are treasured andproudly displayed in homes and various establishments. Such displayedcaps are prone to attracting dust particles and are also prone to damagefrom UV light rays which cause fading of the color and various insigniaover time. Such UV light rays are produced by high intensity andfluorescent lamps in addition to the sunlight. Some caps are kept inglass enclosures to protect them from dust accumulation, however use ofthese enclosures results in wasted space.

Prior art protective coverings have not successfully resolved theproblem of storing such hats and has not addressed the problem of damagefrom UV light rays.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved protective cover for abaseball style cap which provides protection from dirt, dust and UVlight rays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a flexible protective coverfor an article of headwear which has a crown and a visor. The protectivecover includes a first portion formed to the shape of the crown and anintegral pocket formed to receive the visor. The first portion and thepocket are formed from a sheet of polyvinyl chloride material which hasa thickness between about 0.008 inches and 0.012 inches.

An inhibitor added to the polyvinyl chloride material during thepolymerization process significantly reduces penetration of theultraviolet light rays thus protecting the headwear from damage due toUV light rays.

The first portion extends beyond a peripheral edge of the crown and canbe folded over a portion of such crown adjacent the peripheral edge. Thefolded portion may be positively urged for contact with the crown by avariety of retaining members including a clip like member and anelongated member formed from a thicker material and either permanentlyattached to the extension portion or adjustably formed for removable fitwithin the crown.

The cover can be folded for storage purposes without forming permanentfold marks.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the protective coveris provided for an article of headwear that has only a crown portion.Accordingly, the protective cover includes only a first portion formedto the shape of the crown which can extend beyond the peripheral edgethereof and can be folded over such peripheral edge and positivelyretained in the folded condition.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the protective cover isprovided for an article of headwear that has a crown and a brimsurrounding such crown and laterally extending therefrom.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a protective cover for an article of headwear.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective coverwhich conforms to headwear shape.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a protectivecover which is flexible and can be compressed for storing purposes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a protectivecover which significantly reduces penetration of UV light rays.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a protectivecover which can be folded over the headwear's edge and positivelyretained in such folded condition.

In addition to the several objects and advantages of the presentinvention which have been described with some degree of specificityabove, various other objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevantart, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction withthe attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective cover of the presentinvention in combination with a baseball style cap;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the protective cover along the lines2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the protective coverparticularly showing an alternative retaining means for securing thefolded edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the presentinvention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity andunderstanding, identical components which have identical functions havebeen identified with identical reference numerals throughout the severalviews illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, to FIGS. 1 and 2. Therein shown is an article ofheadwear, generally designated 10, which is a well known baseball stylecap 10, which has a generally convex crown portion 12 with a bottom edge14 and a rigid visor 16 outwardly extending from the crown portion 12.

A protective cover of the present invention, generally designated 20,includes a first generally convex portion 22 having a firstpredetermined shape and a predetermined size and having an inner surface24 preferably engaging the outer surface of the crown portion 12. Thefirst predetermined shape of the first portion 22 is preferablyidentical to the shape of the crown portion 12 of the cap 10. Theprotective cover 12 also includes a second portion 30 extendingoutwardly from the first portion 22. Such second portion 30 has a secondpredetermined shape and at least partially surrounds a bottom edge ofthe first portion 22. The second predetermined shape of the secondportion 30 is preferably identical to the shape of the visor 16. It willbe appreciated that the protective cover 22 formed by a combination ofthe first portion 22 and the second portion 30 will protect the outersurface of the baseball style cap 10.

To protect the edge of the visor 16, the second portion 30 may beadapted with a peripheral edge portion 32 having a predetermined height.To further protect the bottom surface of the visor 16, the protectivecover 20 may be adapted with a third portion 34 identical to the secondportion 30, which in combination with the edge portion 32 forms a pocketwhich is partially open enabling insertion of the visor 16 thereinto.

The protective cover 20 is manufactured from a thin lightweight polymermaterial which has a first predetermined thickness and which ispreferably transparent to substantially communicate appearance of thecrown portion 12 and the visor 16. Such polymer material may be rigid orsemi-rigid, and preferably is a flexible polymer including but notlimited to polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, polyurethaneand the like. The preferred material is the polyvinyl chloride with theprotective cover 20 being formed from a sheet of such polyvinyl chloridematerial, preferably by a vacuum forming method.

It has been found to be absolutely critical, in order for the protectivecover 20 to conform to the shape of the cap 12 and to compress into agenerally flat shape for storage purposes without forming permanent foldmarks, that the first predetermined thickness of the material must bebetween about 0.008 inches and less than about 0.012 inches. Preferably,to achieve an optimum performance this first predetermined thicknesswill be controlled as close as possible to be about 0.010 inches.

It has been found that when such first predetermined thickness is lessthan 0.008 inches, the protective cover exhibits permanent fold marksafter it has been compressed or folded. It has also been found that whensuch first predetermined thickness is 0.012 inches or greater, theprotective cover 20 loses its flexibility and cannot be compressed orfolded when not in use.

The first portion 22 may be further adapted with an extension portion 22extending beyond the bottom edge of the crown portion 12 of the baseballstyle cap 10. Advantageously, such extension portion 22 may be foldedover the bottom edge 14, as best shown in FIG. 2, for protectionthereof. Preferably, such extension portion 22 extends along theperipheral edge of the first portion 22 and terminates at the edges ofthe second portion 30.

Preferably, means, generally designated 40, are provided for securingsuch folded extension portion 26. Such means 40 is an elongated memberhaving a second predetermined thickness, which is greater than the firstpredetermined thickness of the first portion 22, and is permanentlyattached to the extension portion 26 so that when such extension portion26 is folded over the bottom edge 14, such elongated member 40 urges theextension portion 26 for engagement with the inner surface portion ofthe crown 12 disposed adjacent the edge 14.

Alternatively, such elongated member 40 may be adjustably formed to athird predetermined shape enabling such elongated member 40 to beremovably fitted within the crown portion 12 and urge the extensionportion 26 for engagement with the inner surface portion of the crown 12disposed adjacent the edge 14.

Alternatively, such means 40, best shown in FIG. 3, includes at leastone clamp like member 42 having a first portion 44 and an opposed secondportion 46 disposed for urging the contact of the extension portion 26and the first portion 22 with the crown portion 12 disposed adjacent theedge 14 thereof.

A means 50 engageable with the protective cover 20 may be provided forsignificantly reducing transmission of UV light rays though at least aportion of the baseball style cap 10. In the presently preferredembodiment such means 50 is any of the well known UV inhibitorsincorporated into the material of the protective cover 20 during thepolymerization process of such material. Alternatively, such means 50may be a UV protective coating 50 applied to at least a portion of thefirst and second portions 22 and 32 respectively.

It will be appreciated that the protective cover 20 may furtherincorporate anti glare properties either incorporated into the materialduring the polymerization process or applied in a coating form to thesurface of the protective cover 20.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of a baseballstyle cap, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that thepresent invention may be applied to other headwear types. For example, asecond portion 32 may be a continuous portion disposed adjacent the edgeof the first portion 22 for protecting a hat which has a continuousperipheral brim. The extension portion 26 may be then attached to suchperipheral second portion 32 and folded under the bottom surface thereoffor additional protection.

Furthermore, the protective cover of the present invention may beutilized for protecting a uniform cap generally characterized by acircular crown, side panels and a visor.

Additionally, a first portion 22 may be utilized for protecting abrimless hat or cap.

Thus, the present invention has been described in such full, clear,concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art towhich it pertains to make and use the same. It will be understood thatvariations, modifications, equivalents and substitutions for componentsof the specifically described embodiments of the invention may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A protective cover for an article of headwear having a crown and avisor extending from such crown and partially surrounding thereof, saidprotective cover comprising: (a) a first portion having a firstpredetermined shape generally identical to a shape of such crown of suchheadwear; (b) a second portion having a second predetermined shapegenerally identical to a shape of such visor, said second portionextending from said first portion and partially surrounding a peripheraledge of said first portion; and (c) said first portion and said secondportion formed from a predetermined polymer material having a firstpredetermined thickness.
 2. The protective cover according to claim 1,wherein said cover further includes a third portion having said secondpredetermined shape and spaced from said second portion at apredetermined distance, said second portion and said third portionjoined by an edge portion to form a pocket which is open adjacent saidperipheral edge of said first portion for receiving such visor.
 3. Theprotective cover according to claim 1, wherein said predeterminedmaterial is a polymer selected from the group consisting of a flexible,a semi-rigid and a rigid polymer.
 4. The protective cover according toclaim 1, wherein said first predetermined thickness is between about0.008 inches and about 0.012 inches.
 5. The protective cover accordingto claim 4, wherein said first predetermined thickness is about 0.010inches.
 6. The protective cover according to claim 1, wherein saidprotective cover further includes means for significantly reducingtransmission of ultraviolet light rays through one of said firstportion, said second portion and a combination thereof.
 7. Theprotective cover according to claim 6, wherein said means forsignificantly reducing transmission of ultraviolet light rays is aninhibitor incorporated into said predetermined polymer material during apolymerization process.
 8. The protective cover according to claim 6,wherein said means for significantly reducing transmission ofultraviolet light rays is a coating applied to one of said first portionand said second portion and said combination thereof.
 9. The protectivecover according to claim 1, wherein said first portion further includesan extension portion extending past an edge of such crown and foldableover such edge.
 10. The protective cover according to claim 9, whereinsaid protective cover further includes means for urging said extensionportion for contact with an inner surface of such crown.
 11. Theprotective cover according to claim 11, wherein said means for urgingsaid extension portion is one of a clamp means having a first portionengaging said extension portion and a second portion engaging an outersurface of said first portion, an elongated member having a secondpredetermined thickness and permanently attached to said extensionportion, and an elongated member adjustably formed to a thirdpredetermined shape and removably fitted within said first portion atleast partially engaging said folded extension portion.
 12. A protectivecover for an article of headwear having a crown, said protective covercomprising a first portion having a first predetermined shape generallyidentical to a shape of such crown of such headwear, said protectivecover is formed from a predetermined polymer material having a firstpredetermined thickness.
 13. The protective cover according to claim 12,wherein said protective cover further includes a second portion having asecond predetermined shape and extending from said first portion, saidsecond portion at least partially surrounding a peripheral edge of saidfirst portion, said second portion is formed from said predeterminedpolymer material.
 14. A protective cover for an article of headwearhaving a crown and a brim laterally extending from such crown andsurrounding thereof, said protective cover comprising: (a) a firstportion having a first predetermined shape generally identical to ashape of such crown of such headwear; (b) a second portion having asecond predetermined shape generally identical to a shape of such brimand extending from said first portion, said second portion surrounding aperipheral edge of said first portion; and (c) said first portion andsaid second portion formed from a polyvinyl chloride material having athickness of between about 0.008 inches and about 0.012 inches.